--- title: EquityZen Blog - Private Market Insights | Investor Basics (4) description: Investor Basics | The EquityZen Blog is the hub for private market insights. Whether you want to buy or sell pre-IPO shares, EquityZen is the marketplace for accessing pre-IPO equity. Learn more at EquityZen.com. (4) --- [![EquityZen](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/equityzen-logo.svg "EquityZen")](https://equityzen.com/) - [Investments](https://equityzen.com/explore/) - [Explore](https://equityzen.com/explore-private-market/) - How it Works - [Investors](https://equityzen.com/investor/) - [Shareholders](https://equityzen.com/shareholder/) - [Institutions](https://equityzen.com/institutions/) - [Issuers](https://equityzen.com/issuers/) - [Financial Advisors](https://equityzen.com/financial-advisors/) - [Insights](https://blog.equityzen.com/) - [Login](https://equityzen.com/accounts/login/) - [Sign Up](https://equityzen.com/accounts/register/) [Back to insights](https://blog.equityzen.com) # Investor Basics [Market Views](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/market-views) [In the News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/in-the-news) [Investor Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-education) [Investor Basics](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics) [IPO News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/ipo-news) [From Our Founders](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/from-our-founders) [Shareholder Education](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/shareholder-education) [Company News](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/company-news) [Video](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/video) [Podcasts](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/podcasts) [Getting Started](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/getting-started) [Product Updates](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/product-updates) [Investor Advanced](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-advanced) [Financial Advisors](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/financial-advisors) [Awards](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/awards) [Monthly Movers](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/monthly-movers) ![Investing Pre-IPO: What Investors Need to Know to Navigate the Market](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_VideoThumbnail_01%5B99%5D-1.jpg) ##### Investing Pre-IPO: What Investors Need to Know to Navigate the Market Navigate the private market with EquityZen's insights on pre-IPO investing. Learn about what investo... Investor Basics 1 min read ![City landscape with setting sun](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1148927105.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_1148927105.jpg) ##### What happens when my pre-IPO investment goes public? Learn what happens when your pre-IPO investment goes public, navigating lock-up periods, and managin... Investor Basics 4 min read ![Blue and purple waves showing data transfer](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2223766919.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2223766919.jpg) ##### EquityZen's Due Diligence Process for Private Companies: A Comprehensive Guide Explore how EquityZen conducts thorough due diligence on private companies, ensuring investors make ... Investor Basics 6 min read ![skyscraper with blue and purple light](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2131703791.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2131703791.jpg) ##### How To Invest in Private Companies Before They Go Public Discover how to invest in private companies before they go public, including evaluating market trend... Investor Basics 15 min read ![close up image of a green leaf](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2122015148.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2122015148.jpg) ##### The Pros and Cons of Pre-IPO Investing Discover the pros and cons of pre-IPO investing, which offers growth opportunities in emerging compa... Investor Basics 7 min read ![tractor mowing a purple field of flowers](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2117997623.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_2117997623.jpg) ##### Pre-IPO Stocks: What They Are & How They Work Learn how pre-IPO stocks work so you can unlock the advantages of early investments in growing compa... Investor Basics 11 min read ![winding road through greenery for equityzen pre-ipo investing ](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EquityZen_Blog_Why%20Invest%20Pre%20IPO%20Now.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=EquityZen_Blog_Why%20Invest%20Pre%20IPO%20Now.jpg) ##### What is Pre-IPO Investing? Uncover how pre-IPO investing can help you seize growth opportunities in emerging companies, enhance... Investor Basics 14 min read ![Maximizing Retirement Savings: Tax Benefits of Self-Directed IRA Investments in Private Companies](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_360786725.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_360786725.jpg) ##### Maximizing Retirement Savings: Tax Benefits of Self-Directed IRA Investments in Private Companies Traditional investments like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds have long been the mainstay of retireme... Investor Basics 6 min read ![Understanding cap tables: a guide for private company investors](https://blog.equityzen.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1670310505.jpg?width=812&height=446&name=shutterstock_1670310505.jpg) ##### Understanding cap tables: a guide for private company investors When considering a private co investment, the cap table is key. That’s why EquityZen’s research team... Investor Basics 5 min read [Prev](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/3) [1](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/1) [2](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/2) [3](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/3) [4](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/4) [5](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/5) [Next](https://blog.equityzen.com/tag/investor-basics/page/5) #### The Potential to Shape the Future Join over 700,000 investors and shareholders accessing the private markets with EquityZen [![Get Started](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20754585/b1b6ba1b-ed6d-4097-8816-bcd01b3b9828) #### Company - [About](https://equityzen.com/about/) - [Careers](https://equityzen.com/careers/) - [Press](https://equityzen.com/press/) #### Policies & Disclosures - [Disclosures](https://equityzen.com/disclosures/) - [Business Continuity Plan](https://equityzen.com/bcp/) - [Privacy Policy](https://equityzen.com/privacy/) - [Allocation Policy](https://equityzen.com/allocation-policy/) - [Form CRS](https://equityzen.com/form-crs/) #### Help - [Help Center](https://help.equityzen.com/en/) - [Getting Started](https://help.equityzen.com/en/collections/5549447-getting-started) - [Status Page](https://status.equityzen.com/) #### Connect - [![Facebook](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/EquityZen) - [![Instagram](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/instagram-1.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/equityzen_/) - [![Vector (8)](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/Vector%20(8).svg)](https://twitter.com/EquityZen) - [![Linked In](https://blog.equityzen.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/equityzen) Investment opportunities posted on this website are "private placements" of securities that are not publicly traded, are subject to holding period requirements, and are intended for investors who do not need a liquid investment. Investing in private companies may be considered highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of substantial loss of investment. Investors must be able to afford the loss of their entire investment. See [our Risk Factors](https://equityzen.com/risk-factors/) for a more detailed explanation of the risks involved by investing through EquityZen’s platform.   EquityZen Securities LLC (“EquityZen Securities”) is a subsidiary of EquityZen Inc. EquityZen Securities is a broker/dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is a [FINRA](http://www.finra.org/)/[SIPC](https://www.sipc.org/) member firm.   Equity securities are offered through EquityZen Securities. 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